Just My Type

November 14, 2022
This entertaining rom-com from Ballard (Lease on Love) kicks off when relationship columnist and serial monogamist Lana Parker is dumped by her boyfriend of four years in “an Elle Woods moment” and her boss at online magazine Always Take Fountain challenges her to write a new column about being (and staying) single. If she does well, she has a shot at writing lifestyle pieces for the much more prestigious paper that has just acquired the site. But there’s a catch: she’s competing against her former best friend and first boyfriend, Seth Carson, a rootless freelance journalist who’s been challenged to write about becoming “boyfriend material” after years of playing the field. As former lovers turned bitter rivals turned uncertain coworkers, Lana and Seth slowly rebuild their old connection, discovering a deep chemistry that never quite faded. Ballard’s leads easily prove their compatibility through snarky banter and subtext-laden glances that leave no doubt as to their inevitable happily ever after. But the story, which refreshingly sees both protagonists undergoing therapy for their respective issues while reassessing their personal and professional goals, is one of healing and emotional growth as much as romance. There are few surprises here, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Whalen Agency.

November 1, 2022

An online relationship columnist finds herself pitted against her high school ex-boyfriend in this steamy novel from Ballard (Lease on Love). Lana, a serial monogamist, finds herself single but not-so-ready to mingle when she ends up competing for a coveted columnist spot against Seth, the boy who broke her heart--twice. The story may be a little bit difficult for the most logical among romance readers to sink into--the writing competition comes across as kind of silly, and Lana crosses the line into twee at times, particularly with pop culture references that never go anywhere--but Ballard does a good job of tying together her insecurities, upbringing, and past with Seth into a relatable heroine. She further crafts a central relationship solid enough that most contemporary rom-com fans will be pleased they picked this one up as the workplace rom-com with a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers plotline speaks to readers who love messy heroines and slightly far-fetched setups. VERDICT Despite a few missteps, this spicy, tropey read will have most rom-com fans declaring, "It's just my type of book!"--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2023
A dating columnist vows to stay single...and then her high school boyfriend shows up. Lana Parker is a serial monogamist. After her devastating breakup with her high school boyfriend, Seth Carson, she made sure she always had a long-term boyfriend. Lana is good at being a girlfriend--but perhaps less good at being herself. Her experience with relationships might make her the perfect person to write a relationships and dating column for the website she works for, but she'd much rather write about pop culture. When her latest relationship implodes, Lana's boss, Natasha, decides that Lana should write about staying single. It's a terrifying prospect for Lana, but she's determined to do everything she can to stay away from relationships. However, there's one problem: Seth Carson himself, also a writer, just showed up at her job. Natasha, desperate for traffic, decides to pit the two of them against each other in a not-so-friendly competition: Lana has to learn how to live life on her own, while Seth has to focus on settling down with the right person. They both have to write about their journey, and the writer who is most popular with the site's readers wins their own column. This could finally be Lana's chance to break out of the dating department and write about what she wants--and destroy the man who broke her heart so many years ago. But Seth doesn't make things easy, mostly because he's infuriatingly charming. As they spend more time together, Lana finds herself wondering what she really wants. Lana is a likable character whose background (she was mostly ignored as a child by her philanthropist mother) makes it easy to see why she jumps into relationships. Seth and Lana have instant chemistry on the page, and it's a joy to read their snarky banter that transforms into something more heartfelt. Their longing for each other and the obstacles in their way feel realistic. Ballard also creates a warm and witty friend group for Lana that adds plenty of comic relief. A compulsively readable second-chance romance that's full of pining and laughs.

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January 1, 2023
When Lana is dumped by her boyfriend of four years instead of receiving the proposal she expects, she knows she needs a change from her work writing a relationship column. Her friends advise her against jumping into another relationship, as she has never really been without a boyfriend. Her first love, Seth, is also hired to write for her employer. She hasn't seen him since an embarrassing interaction at their high-school reunion a couple years ago. Lana's boss presents them with competing assignments. Lana has to write about how to live a single life; Seth must address the challenges of sustaining a permanent relationship. The prize will be a column in the Chronicle, Lana's dream job. The tasks are realistic and funny, from buying furniture for Seth, to speed-dating for Lana and therapy for both. They work through their assignments while also reckoning with their painful history, making for a unique and humorous tale. Ballard hits all the right notes in a second-chance romance with smart, appealing lead characters.

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